Feed-controlling mechanism for punching-presses.



C. R. GABRIEL.

FEED CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PUNGHING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.6, 1912.

1,099,545, 7 Patented June 9,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

INVENTOR @ZKM G. R. GABRIEL.

FEED CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PUNQHING PRESSES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1912.

99 545 Patented June 9,1914.

BSHEETS-SHEET 2.

@ XA 'E Il V VENTOR Patented June 9,1914

3 SHBETSSHBET 3.

G. R. GABRIEL.

FEED CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PUNCHING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1912.

INVENTOR WITNESSES: 1

lid

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. GABRIEL, OF NEW 'YORK, Y., ASSIGNOR T0 E. W. BLISS COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 191

Application filed rebmar e, 1912. Serial No. 675,733.

To all whom it may concern Be it lmown that I, Cmnrns R. GABRIEL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Controlling Mechanism for Punching-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the feeding to a punching press or analogous machine, of a sheet of metal, cardboard, etc, which is to be punched or otherwise treated by such machine.

In punching" a series of objects, such, for example, as can heads, from a sheet, it is customary to present one side or end of the sheet to the punch, and, starting at one corner, to feed the sheet laterally so asto punch out one lateral row of punchingspin the case of round punchings 5 or other shapes which may-similarly interfit, it is customary to alternate the punchings of the second row with those of the first row, so that the punchings enter partly between the previous punchings so as to economize material. This method of alternate punchin is known as a stagger feed. This the s set is fed in alternate lateral directions, being advanced at the end of each row of punchings to bring it'into position for the next row, and being displaced half the length of the lateral feed in starting each row so as to properly alternate the punchings. It is customary also to provide the press with means for cutting away the scrap or skeletonized plate which is left after each row of punchings in order to make" room for the next forward feed of the sheet. For thus feeding a sheet to the punching press two means are commonly provided, either 1) a gage for indicating the proper spacing of the feeding it ovements, the entire feed'in operation being performed by hand side or guided by such gage; or (2) a purely mechanical feeding mechanism whereby when the operato-r' places a sheet in position upon 'a feeding table and starts themachine, the necessary feeding movements are executed automatically; The lattr'means' involves a more sense complicated mechanism accompanied by'the di's adi ant-hges' of high firgt cost, liability age: outf'oforder. and difpunchings requiring a different length of feed. Such automatic feed mechanism is chlefly available where great numbers of like punchings are to be made so that the machine rarely requires adjustment.

The present invention aims to provide a very simple and easily operated mechanism for insuring the correct and accurate feedmg of a sheet by hand, so that such hand feeding may have practically the same precision and accuracy as if an automatic feedmg mechanism were employed, while reguiring a minimum of skill in manipulaion.

A further object is to facilitate the adjustment of the feed-controlling means for punchings of different size, or requiring different spacing, and for sheets of difl'erent sizes.

To these ends my invention provides a punching press of any ordinary. construction having a suitably extended bed or stationary table, with a laterally movable feed table, having means for engaging the sheet from which the purfchings are to be made, these means being adjustable to accommodate sheets of different lateral dimensions. The feed table is guided so' that it can move from right to left and left to rightin'an invariable path; and it isso moved manually by the operator, guided by a se riesof stops comprising a rack bar carried by the feed table, and a movable stop or abutment seated on the fixed bed of the press and automatically withdrawn after each punching operation in order to permit of the manual feeding movement, being replaced in time to locate the feed table at the end of such movement. The teeth of the rack bar and the tooth or teeth of the movable stop are so proportioned and related that when the direction of feed is changed the first feeding movement is made of half the scope of the normal feeding movements, whereby to correctly provide the requisite staggered feed. The feed table carries claniping means for holding fast the sheet during the punching of a row of perforations"and releasing means is provlded, under t e control of the operator, for opening theclamps to release-thesheet after the punching of eachirow, in order-that tl1e operator' may mdve the sheet forward into ficulty of adjustment when it is des'ired'to l position for punching the next row. The

use a diiferent size of sheet or to make i read; table is provided with a handle or bar extending parallel with its path of movement and which is grasped by the operator to manually feed the table; and the same bar is utilized to operate the clampingmeans, this being done by a twisting or oscillatory movement of the bar. Gages are provided for initially locating the sheet for punching the first row and for subsequently l1m1ting the forward feed of the sheet beforethe punching of each subsequent row.

The accompanying drawings illustrate.

the preferred embodiment of my invention as applied to an ordinary tip-back punching press of the well-known BllSS type.

Figure l is a side elevation of the upper or tilting member of such press, this for convenience being shown in its upright position so that its bed or table is horizontal, although, as is well understood, such presses are commonly operated in a back-tilted position so that the fixed table or bed is slanted backward, so that the sheet, on being advanced from row to row, moves obliquely downward. .Fig. 2 is a plan of the bed of the press showing the feed-controlling mechanism and gages, a fragment of the upright frame of the press being shown in horizontal section. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail of an end of the handle H. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the stationary feed table and its accessories. Fig. 4 is'an elevation of the right hand end or side of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isa vertical section on the plane of lines 5-5 in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section in a different plane from Fig. 5, namely, the plane of the line 5 in. Fig. 3, the table being shown tilted. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan of a partly punched sheet. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view of the feed stop. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the details of the gage-operating handle.

Referring to the drawings, A designates J the tilting frame of the press, and B its bed or stationary table. The fixed bed or foot supporting the frame A is notshown, being well understood.

C is the feed table which moves from side to side over the table B. To facilitate this movement it is mounted on rollers a a (Fig. 5) which roll upon the stationary bed, and rollers a a (Fig. 5) which roll against a rib B on the bed, and as this is inclined backward, the weight of the table C keeps it pressed back with these rollers bearing on the rib. The feed table C is thus suitably guided to insure its movement in a fixed rectilinear path.

D is the die, mounted as shown upon the bed or table B.

E, Fig. 1, is the punch which enters'the die. On each side and back of thedie are scrap-cutters,each consisting of a rectangular die F entered by a similar shaped punch F, which together form a shear for cutting the scrap that is left by the punching operations. These parts, being well understood, are not shown in detail; I

The feed table C," while it might be a simple fiat plate, is preferably made as an open frame comprising longitudinal members b and c and end members 01 (Z. Upon the member I) is fastened a metal plate 6 which supports the sheet to be punched. To the end members d it are fastened adjustable end frames f j which are set at such distance apart as to admit the sheet tobe punched ffeely but snugly between them. To accommodate sheets of different dimensions these end frames f are made adjustable by means of set screws f passing through. slots and engaging one or another of a series of holes d d in the members 01. The end members 03 are thus made-wide enough to accommodate the maximum adjustment that is desired.

For clamping the sheet to be punched to the feed table C the latter is provided with clamping means consisting preferably of two levers G G, one at ea'ch end, pivoted or fulcrumed at g to the end frames f respectively. These are best shown in Fig. The short arms to the rear of the fulcrum pins 9 are adapted to pinch the sheet against a plate 6 (or preferably against a short piece of anvil plate-e in the same plane which is carried by the rear end of each of the frames 1). The lever may thus clamp the sheet frictionally, but preferably each lever is armed with a pointed screw or spur h which enters a small hole in the anvil plate and thus indents the sheet so as to prevent any risk of it slipping. To clamp the sheet with the requisite force each lever G is provided with a spring located 7 at 2' so as to engage and press up the long arm of the lever. This springv may be variously constructed; the construction preferred is that shown in Fig. 5, where the spring 2' is housed in a socket in the frame f and presses up a plunger z" against a pin 2' projecting from the lever. It is neces sary to be able to open both clamps simultaneously by a single movement, and for this purpose the feed table is provided .With a handle-bar H which may be of simple cylindrioal form and ,mounted to oscillate on an axis carried by supporting bracket-s j at opposite ends, this handle being so "connected to the levers G G that by turning it in one direction it will depress the levers and open the clamps, whereas by turning it in the contrary direction it will release the levers and permit their springs to'close theclamps. -The construction shown in Fig. 5 is suitable, the handle H'being pivoted eccentrically' to the supporting brackets j j so that as it is turned-it acts to depress or release the free ends of thelevers G G.

The handle may conveniently be constructed of, a tube fastened on a block i at each end (Fig. 2) having an eccentric pivot pin 7' passing freely through a hole in the bracket j. To limit the oscillatory movements of the handle the bracket carries a fixed pin j which enters .an arc-shaped slot j in the end block- The handle H extends endwise of the feed table over its front portion, where it serves conveniently as the means by which the operator performs the feeding movements of thetable. The handle or bar ll thus'serve a double purpose; namely, when moved to the left or right to feed the table, and when turned to release the clamps To the front of the feed table C is fastened a rack bar J which extends nearly from end to end of the feed table and has teeth projecting from it, these teeth being spaced apart between centers a distance equal to the space or feed between two suctable may be freely moved, the teeth of the rack bar not encountering the stop K; when the stop is raised to the position shown in Fig. 7, the latter is in position to encounter and check the movement of the rack bar teeth. The movements of the stop K are performed automatically and by connection with the punching press, so that after each,

punching stroke and when the punch lifted abovethe die, the stop is withdrawn, so as to free the rack bar and. permit'the operator to move the feed table to right or left preparatory to the next punching.

These movements are, performed b means of a cam L fixed on'the' crank shaft of the punching press, which cam. acts upon a roller l carried by a rod m, which through an elbow lever m, rod 1%, arm 0, rock shaft 721 and arm- 72', communicates movement to a slide K on which the stop K is mounted. The stop K is thusldisplaced downwardly for a time. suificient only to enable the opera-tor to move the feed table enough to carry its rack teeth past the stop tooth is of the stop K; and after a sufficient interval to allowof this the stop K is restored to its original position, whereupon the operator, eontinuing the fe the next rack tooth to a firm seat against the stop tooth k and holds it there during the nf 'tpunching operation. The engagement of the, rack. tth.j' with the stop teeth is anyshqsn. in F g, 7- 'lhe. stop K may ave one tooth k or more, two being preferabl as she-an.

The spacing between the rack her teeth eding movement, brings (being "the dimensions a in Fig. 7), equals the length of a feeding movement. To commence the-stagger feed requires a half feeding movement which is provided. for by making the thickness or width of the rack bar teeth and stop teeth I: such that the space or between them is equal to half the dimension :2; hence, when the series of feed ing movements in one direction is terminated. and after the operator has advanced the sheet forward (as will be described), when he begins to perform the feeding movements in the opposite lateral direction, the first feeding movement is of the distance at, thereby gaging the feed table properly for the first punching in the next succeeding row, whereby the requisite stagger feed is secured. This half feed is thus accomplished automatically upon commencing each new row of punchings and by extremely simple gaging means.

The rack bar J is removably attached to the feed table in order that, when it' is required to replace the die or punch by one making a smaller or larger punching, which requires a different amplitude of feeding, the rack bar may be removed and replaced by another rack bar havingits teeth spaced apart the correct distance for this new series of punchings. Ordinarily only a. limited number of different sizes of punchings are to be made by the same press for any given class of work, and for this it is easy to provide a corresponding series of rack bars. The stop teeth k It also require to be replaced by others in case two or more of these teeth are employed, and for this purpose the stop K is made detachable from its slide K, being fastened thereto by any suitable means. It is preferable. also that the rack bar J be made laterally adjustable with respect to the feed table C, For this purpose a suitable construction is that shown, wherein the rack bar is fastened by a succession of clamping screws q r F ig. 5, the nuts of which are preferably square blocks, seating closely in an undercut'groove r formed longitudlnally in the front face of the front member 0 of the feed table.- Upon the loosening of these screws the rack bar may ns be removed endwise. Or by loosening the screws it may be adjusted endwise to ring it to the precise adjustment required for the initial feed, whereupon the clamping screws are all set tight to hold it firmly in position.

It is preferable to provide the feed table with end stops N N, these being fastened to it just beyond the ends of the rack bar J and preferably by similar clampingscrews q, the nuts of which engage the same under; cut groove 1 These stops. are so located that when the feed table has; been moved to the position for the last punching of the row the stop at that end will abut against the side of the movable stop K and thereby prevent any further movement in that direction. The stop shoulders on the stops N project sutficiently to continue in engagement with the stop K after the latter is displaced.

I will now describe gaging means for initially locating the advancing edge of the sheet and for determining its forward feed after the punching of each row.

At the back of the fixed bed or table B is mounted, near each side or lateral end, a saddle-piece P; supported by these two saddle-pieces is a gage-bar Q, extending from right to left parallel with the path of movement of the feed table G. This gage-bar Q, has a front face or gaging edge g, which is destined to receive the rear or advancing edge of the sheet to be punched. The gagebar may be set forward or backward by means of adjusting screws Q Q, which turn in threaded sockets carried by the saddles P P. After adjustment the gage-bar is preferably clamped firmly in place by set screws 1* 1". The gage-bar near each end has fastened to it a supporting plate R or R, these plates being in the same plane as the plate 6 of the feed table. The function of these plates is to receive the advancing portion of the sheet when it is fed from row to row. On one of these plates is carried a pair of preliminary gages S S, shown best in Fig. &. These are mounted each on an arm 8, the two arms 8 5 being fastened on the opposite ends of a rock shaft 8 from which projects an arm- .9 to which, as shown in Fig. 4, is-

jointed a rod t which extends to the front of the table B and terminates in a knob 25, con

veniently located to be grasped by the operator. By pushing this knob rearwardly the rock shaft is oscillated so as to drop the gages S S down upon the plate R in operative position; by pulling the knob forward the gages are raised, as shown in Fig. 4, so that they are rendered inoperative and the sheet may be passed beneath them. To retain these parts in either position a yielding catch is provided which may conveniently be of the construction shown in Fig. 8 where the rod t is formed with two notches or grooves, either of which may be engaged by a spring-pressed ball t the spring having sufficient stress to hold the rod with sufiicientfirmness in either position and yet permit it to be displaced to the other position by a suitably energetic pushing or pulling movement. a

The feeding operation may now be understood.

Before inserting a new sheet the initial gages SS are dropped into operative position by pushing back the knob t. The feed table C being moved to the right, as shown in Fig. 2. the sheet to be punched is inserted under the handle H, its right and left edges fitting snugly but freely between the end frames 7 f. The operator turns'the handle H so as to release the clamps G G and pushes the sheet forward until its advancing edge strikes the gages S S, being stopped thereby in the correct position for making the first row of punchings. One corner of the sheet is then directly over the die D for the first punching. The operator then turns the handle H to cause the clamps G G to engage and hold the sheet. The gages S S, having thus performed their function of initially locating the sheet, should now be lifted by pulling forward the knob t. The operator then, by the usual foot treadles, starts the press, and when the punch, after the first punching operation, lifts and frees the sheet, the stop K moves down to the position shown in Fig. 3. The operator then, having his hand on the handle H, moves the feed table to the left,/and before this movement is completed the stop K moves back so that its teeth is intercept the rack teeth and stop the manual feeding movement. The operator, keepin his hand on the handle H, holds the fee table with its rack teeth snugly against the stop Kwhile the punch descends and cuts out the second punching. As the punch rises another feed movement is performed, and so on, until the punchings of the first row have all been cut out. When this occurs K so that even if the operator were inattentive no further feeding movement could be The operator then releases the performed. treadle and stops the press in order to advance the sheet for the second row of punchings. He then turns the handle H to release the clamps G G and advances the sheet by pushing it forwardly until its advancing edge encounters the shoulder q of the gage Q, whereupon he reengages the clamps G G. The parts are now ready for cutting the second row of punchings. To start this the operator pushes the handle-bar H toward the right so that the half feed previously described is performed, thereby bringing the position for the first punching of the second row to a point between the two last punchings in the first row. He then starts the machine and the sheet is alternately punched and fed while traversing the second row. Fig. 6 shows the condition when the second row has been partly punched. During the punching of the first row the-scrap cutters or shears F F will cut oif a narrow strip from the margin which is provided on the sheet, thus forming a true gaging edge for the sheet. During the cutting of the second row of punching these cutters act to shear der to correctly gage the sheet for the third row of punchings. Thus the operation proceeds. the operator keeping one or both hands upon the handle H in order to move the feed table, oscillating this handle at the end of each row of punchings to release and feed forward the sheet, and starting or stopping the press bymeans of the usual foot treadle. When the sheet is finally cut up for making the last row of punchings, the remaining scrap is pushed off, the starting gages S S'are dropped into place against and a new sheet is inserted against these gages as before.

It will be understood that the gages S S are adjustable on their arms 8 sin order that their distance from the gage shoulder (7 may properlv accord with the spacing between the first and second rows of punchings. For each difierent size of punching to be made an adjustment of the gage-bar Q and the gages S S is required, and a new rack bar J and stop teeth In are required.

It is sometimes required to lower the stop K when the press is stopped in order to move the feed table C to either side. For

I this purpose a handle T is provided which may be made, as shown, in one piece with the arm 19 so that by manipulating this handle the operator may press down the slide K against the stress of its spring it.

The manipulation of the machine thus described is quickly and easily learned. In the hands of an operator of any ordinary skill and attention it may easily attain a. speed approaching closely to that of the punching presses having a purely automatic feed. At the same time the machine is much a less complicated, less liable to derangement,

and its initial cost and expense of maintenance are much less.

The invention is not limited to the precise details of construction herein set forth, being susceptible of considerable variation in non-essential respects without departing from its essential features.

I claim as my' invention 1. The combination with a punching press of a laterally movable feed table having carry a sheet and permit ,the latter tobe fed forwardly over it, sheet-clamping levers pivoted to said ,table, springs pressing sald levers toengage the sheet, and an operating handle movable to release said levers.

3. The combinatiomwith a punching press of a laterally movable feed table having a' rack bar and a movable stop ,coacting with said rack bar to limit the feeding move ments Qf the table, the combined widths of the abutting stop teeth being equal to half a feeding niovenient,/whereby reversing the direction of feed insures a stagger feed.

4. The combination with a punching press of a laterally movable feed table having a longitudinal undercut groove, a rack bar having clamping'means entering said groove whereby to fasten the rack bar adjustably to the feed table, and a movable stop adjustable in said groove coacting with the teeth of said rack bar to limit the feeding movements of the table.

5. The combination with a punching press having a laterally ext-ended bed, of afeed table laterally movable thereon, sheet-clamp- ,ing means on said feed table, and an adustable gage-bar. applied to said bed for gaging the advancing movements of the sheet.

6. The combination with a punching press having a punch and scrap cutter, of a feed table having solely a lateral movement. clamping means on said table for gripping a sheet to be punched, preliminary gages for locating the initial position of the sheet on said table, and a stationary gage related to said scrap cutter for limiting the forward feed of the sheet relatively to the table to the correct distance between lateral rows of punchings.

7 The combination with a punching press havin a laterally extended bed, of a feed table laterally movable thereon, adapted to -'a rock shaft having arms on which said gages are adjustably mounted, and an operating handle connected to said rock shaft for displacing or replacing said gages.

8. The combination with a punching press having a laterally extended bed, of a feed table laterally movable thereon, sheet-clamping means on said. feed table, preliminary gages for locating the initial position of the sheet, a rock shaft having arms on which said gages are adjustably mounted, an operating rod connected to said shaft whereby to displace or replace said gages, -'and a yielding retainer engaging said rod in either position for holding it until displaced thererom. Y

9. The combination with a punching press of a laterally eirtende'd bed therefor having a guiding rib projecting therefrom, of a movable feed table having solely a lateral movement, rollers on said table for rolling against the surface of said bed, and-rollers perpendicular theretorolling against the face ofsaid rib, whereby when the press is tilted back the weight of the feed table keeps said latter rollers engaged with said L new 4 rib to guide the movement of the feed table I to permit an initial half feeding movement in a fixed, rectilinear path. upon reversing the direction of feed.

10. The combination with a punching In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed press of a laterally movable feed table, a my name in the presence of two subscribing 5 series of stop teeth carried thereby, and a Witnesses.

movable stop in a stationary location 00- i acting with said stop teeth to limit the feed- CHARLES GABRIEL ing movements of the table, said step teeth 5 Witnesses: and'movable stop adapted to' engage in i ARTHUR C. FRASER, 10 either direction and relatively proportioned FRED WHITE. 

